Chris Pika, of NewOrleansSaints.com reports New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Rick Venturi, who battled through the 2005 season with problems with his hip, is resting comfortably in a San Antonio hospital after having hip replacement surgery earlier this week. He is expected to be released soon from the hospital.

Brian Allee-Walsh, of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, reports New Orleans Saints head coach Jim Haslett has decided to rotate his linebackers in the team's Week 4 game. Haslett and Saints defensive coordinator Rick Venturi have concluded that six linebackers deserve playing time with the first unit. Strongside LB Sedrick Hodge, MLB Courtney Watson and weakside LB Colby Bockwoldt, although listed at the top of the team's depth chart at their positions, haven't necessarily distanced themselves from backup LBs James Allen, Ron McKinnon and T.J. Slaughter. "I don't like to platoon anybody, but I think all six linebackers warrant playing time,'' Haslett said. "So, if that's the way it is, that's the way it is.''

Mike Triplett, of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, reports the New Orleans Saints will have 10 returning starters on defense this season from a unit that finished last overall in the league a year ago. "I'm excited about the fact that we're going with a team that has played together, for my first time here, period," said Rick Venturi, who is entering his 10th season with the Saints and fourth as the team's defensive coordinator. "There's going to be continuity, which should help us early. That's been a problem here. We haven't had continuity. We've had a lot of mass changes, and that makes it hard to be good right off the bat."